Scottish House Condition Survey Local Authority Tables 2022-2024

Fuel Poverty

As set out in section 3 of the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act a household is in fuel poverty if, in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, total fuel costs necessary for the home are more than 10% of the household’s adjusted net income (after housing costs), and if after deducting fuel costs, benefits received for a care need or disability and childcare costs, the household’s remaining adjusted net income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living. The remaining adjusted net income must be at least 90% of the UK Minimum Income Standard to be considered an acceptable standard of living, with an additional amount added for households in remote rural, remote small town and island areas.

In the period 2022-2024, the fuel poverty rate varied from 22% in Stirling to 51% in Orkney Islands compared to the average in Scotland of 31% (Figure 5).

In 2022-2024 eight local authorities had fuel poverty rates that were statistically significantly higher than the national average, these were: Orkney Islands (51%), West Dunbartonshire (43%), Na h-Eileanan Siar (40%), Shetland Islands (40%), Dumfries & Galloway (38%), Dundee City (38%), East Ayrshire (38%) and Glasgow City (35%). Five local authorities had significantly lower fuel poverty rates than the national average, these were: Stirling (22%), City of Edinburgh (24%), Perth & Kinross (24%), East Lothian (25%) and Angus (26%).

On average across 2022-2024, 31% of dwellings were in fuel poverty.

Figure 5: Percent Dwellings in Fuel Poverty by local authority, compared to Scotland average. SHCS 2022-2024. [Note 1]